Durban’s history is explored in depth in The Coolie Odyssey.
? ‘Rajesh Gopie brings his extraordinary talent as an actor to his writing for the stage. The Coolie Odyssey is also remarkable for his deeply informed historic perspectives of how Indian people emerged from untold enduring hardships to become leaders in our South African society.” This endorsement of the multiaward-winning historical drama comes from Nobel laureate Nadine Gordimer. The account of the struggle of indentured Indian labourers returns to the city of its birth on the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the first Indians in South Africa. The play’s Durban run follows a high-profile international tour earlier this year. Leavening the harshness with humour and imagination, the tale is told by a monkey with memories of human incarnations who, on an old typewriter, types up the story of indentured labourer Ramlal Kihari who arrived in Durban in 1888.
Playhouse Drama, July 14 to August 7. Evening performances are at 7.30pm. School performances and matinees at 11am. Tickets are R120 (schools R40; pensioners at matinees R50). All tickets for Thursday-night performances are R80. Booking is through Computicket.
? The Rhumbelow Theatre celebrates its first decade with one-off shows by some of the venue’s most popular performers. On Friday July 8 at 8pm Durban theatre icon Lisa Bobbert presents her new show, Bobbertlicious. On Saturday July 9 at 2pm Barbie Meyer gets up close and personal with Karoo sage Herman Charles Bosman in Bosman — & Then Some. At 9pm on Saturday An Evening with Jaz & Bel sees singers Jaziel Vaugh’hann and Belinda Dolphin strut their stuff. On Sunday July 10 at 2pm Colin Penn & the Pennants bring some suave big-band swagger to the party and, appropriately, rounding off the proceedings at 6.30pm on Sunday is Comedy Drag with the Family Players, the troupe that launched the Rhumbelow.
Rhumbelow Theatre, 22 Stanfield Avenue, off Bartle Road. Tickets for all shows are R100. Booking is through Computicket. Tel: 082 499 8636. Email: [email protected].